Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort

The Sofitel name is one to which we are always drawn due to their beautiful properties, desirable locations and incredibly well-trained staff. Our experience at Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort met our expectations despite a rocky start that involved long lines at immigration, an impatient greeter and a very disorganized check-in after a frustrating flight. Classic travel woes. When we finally made it to our room our anxiety melted away and we soaked up the view of the ocean from our balcony.

The Rooms

We stayed in a Luxury Room with a view of the elaborate pool below. At night, we could see the fire dance performance from our small balcony. The layout made great use of space and managed to create several different areas within the open floor plan. We loved the large closet area hidden behind a wooden screen and the comfortable living area with couch and table. The bathroom was beautiful with a separate tub, shower and water closet.

As always, the Sofitel bed was great and we found it hard to leave it in the morning! However, SCUBA diving in Bali is a great motivator.

The Pool

The pool at the Sofitel Bali winds through several features, lounge areas, children areas and deep sections. There are chairs in the water, around the side and sun beds as well. The pool bar was great and had the best layout we have ever seen. There was plenty of seating and even bar tables in the water so you could step back from the bar itself and still have a seat in the pool.

At night, tall columns sprout fire and the area is romantically lit. We enjoyed a night swim under the stars. The pool is huge, but because of the winding shape and all the trees, it never felt crowded.

The Food

Sofitel does food right. Breakfast was a huge display with stations serving everything from sushi to fresh juice. No French-influenced dining experience is complete without fresh bread and the Sofitel Bali had an entire room. The wait staff were expertly trained and our coffee stayed full while we explored the many offerings.

We had dinner at le Bar in the lobby and were impressed with the vegetable sandwich and chicken burger. This open-air setting is a fun spot for a later, lighter meal when the sun is heading down. A lawn cleverly disguises the restaurant below, so while sitting in the lounge you have an uninterrupted view of the ocean.

We can’t discuss Sofitel’s food without cluing you in about their Saturday brunch. An even more impressive spread than the daily resort breakfast, live music and a la carte items made this a highlight of our stay. We loved it so much, we’re going to tell you more about it in a separate post.

The Spa

The Sofitel Bali spa is an incredibly grand but relaxing place. We headed in for our massages right after a dip in the pool and felt totally relaxed when we left. The ceilings are insanely high and the rooms were long and plainly decorated. It wouldn’t be my favorite style for a spa, but it certainly was luxurious. Our only complaint was that after our treatment while we relaxed with our tea we could see through a window to some other part of the hotel that may have been a reception area or the lobby. It was partly hidden by water, but it was odd to look up and see people moving around outside.

Bali attracts tourists looking for a variety of terrains, and we were excited about the beautiful beaches. Sofitel Bali proved to be a perfect place to stay to enjoy the ocean, have a drink on the beach or cool off in the pool.

Traveling in Bali was a bit of a headache for us. AKA I left everything until the last minute, and Indonesia is not completely online when it comes to ticket sales. So, we were faced with the impossible task of booking a plane ticket the day before the flight. The wonderful concierge was a super star; hunting down angles, making phone calls, thinking of ways to get around all the normal rules and remaining completely cordial even when I started to panic. In the end, he saved the day by using his personal bank account to send money via ATM for the tickets. It’s nice to know when you’re in a new country that hotel staff will go above and beyond to make sure you are taken care of.

Quick Tips:

Stay here! The property is beautiful, the staff are top-notch, the food is amazing!

Don’t miss the Nikki Beach Club just past the pool. If one brunch isn’t enough or you’re not here on a Saturday, they have a Sunday party brunch with quite a reputation

Enjoy the beach in the early morning and swim in the shade during the day

For more information or to make a reservation, visit Sofitel Bali online

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Evanne Allen

Evanne.allen@gmail.com

Evanne co-founded Poplar Travels after quitting her job in Washington, D.C. She got itchy feet at a young age and has never lost the urge to explore the planet. A previous museum employee, she is apt to drag travel partners into several cultural institutions anywhere she goes. She wishes she could speak every language and loves meeting new people.

Evanne

Eric and Evanne are frequent travelers currently based in Virginia where they run a luxury bed & breakfast. They love exploring destinations near and far and sharing their tales of luxury and adventure.